Queens College alumnus Joseph Crowley, ‘85, donated Congressional papers to the Benjamin S. Rosenthal library, in an effort to preserve an integral piece of history. The former Congressman signed the deed on Feb. 7th, 2019, at the college. The collection of papers span an extensive variety, ranging from “official correspondence,” to “legislative issues” and “planning documents, speeches and memorabilia,” according to QNS.com.
In addition to these are “…framed copies of the Affordable Care Act with the original signatures of President Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, featuring a handwritten note from Pelosi and a commemorative pen used in the signing; the Senate Good Friday Agreement signed by Hillary Clinton, with a handwritten note from her; the U.S. and India Nuclear Cooperation Bill, with commemorative pen; framed photographs of Crowley with President Bill Clinton, Governor Hugh Carey, Mario Cuomo and George Pataki and Secretary Clinton.”
The documents will be thoroughly examined, and will soon become public to outside researchers once QC archivists have conducted their examinations. The gift is the latest Special Collection at QC; other papers have been donated in the past by “…Congressmen Benjamin S. Rosenthal and Gary Ackerman, New York State Assembly Speaker Saul Weprin, Queens Borough President and Queens College alumna Helen Marshall” (QNS.com).
When speaking about his contribution to the school, Crowley reminisced on his time here at QC. “Queens College was a bedrock of my education and young life… I’m honored that my alma mater will house documents and materials from my three-decade career in politics. It is my hope that students, faculty, and the public will benefit from an inside view of how Washington D.C. works on behalf of all Americans. I want to sincerely thank Queens College for its assistance in making these documents public for all to interact with.”
The Congressman was in Congress for two decades, and was nominated for the Democratic Caucus two times while in office, with thirty years of politics under his belt so far. He served as a U.S. Representative from 2009 to 2019, until he was not re-nominated in 2018. He graduated from Queens College in 1985 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and Communications.
President Felix V. Matos Rodriguez expressed his thanks for the Congressman’s generous gift, saying, “We are so proud and thankful to our friend Congressman Joseph Crowley for formally donating his congressional papers to his alma mater Queens College… No matter where life took him, he found ways to remain connected to the college and to higher education to make sure that the needs of the college were met. What better embodiment of the Queens College motto, “We Learn So That We May Serve,” than Joe Crowley, who has dedicated his life to service, and what a great gift to our students for whom these materials will hopefully serve as inspiration for careers of great distinction.” To visit the Special Collections & Archives exhibit, contact the office at 718-997-3650 or QC.archives@qc.cuny.edu. Appointments can be made on Mondays and Tuesdays between 10am-8pm, or Wednesdays through Fridays between 10am and 5pm. They are located in room 317, on Floor Three of the Benjamin Rosenthal Library.
